Partizan played obviusly a great game, at both ends of the floor and deservedly won in Milan, 90-70, though the final margin was in no way indicative of the game’s story. Olimpia played a fair first half, as Coach Ettore Messina pointed out in his post-game presser, but even then ball movement was not up to the standard. Milan led by as many as seven points in the first quarter and six in the second before going to intermission up 40-37. But Partizan was dictating the tempo, moved the lineups and was able offensively to hit Olimpia’s defense where it was the most vulnerable, inside. While Sterling Brown was huge at shooting, Carlik Jones’ drives and Tyrique Jones inside game were a problem Olimpia couldn’t solve. The three main players from Partizan combined for 72 points. More than that, Partizan shot over 72 percent on twos. So, to win, Olimpia had to be great at the offensive end of the court. While finishing the game with 12 threes on 42 percent long-distance shooting, Olimpia struggled to move the ball and create open shots, struggled to get into the lane. Olimpia was within five after three quarters, well positioned to attempt a comeback. The 20-point margin was developed very late in the game. “They are athletic and aggressive so give them a lot of credit – Coach Messina said – but in part we didn’t move the ball enough or quick enough, we overdribbled. When fatigue sets in you have to move the ball even more, otherwise they jump over you. In the second half we should have improved, instead we regressed further. The gap in terms of physicality tonight was huge. Every EuroLeague round is like that. So we take it, we work and try to move on,” he said.